RCA Phono Interconnect Under $400

I addition to your choosing your tonearm cable, I found when I had a  Jolida JD-9, it benefited from using silver interconnects (to the amp), an upgraded power cord, installing damping material to the inside of the chassis, removing the tube shields and using Herbies Tenderfeet. Don’t be afraid of trying different settings on the rear switch panel. Start with the suggested settings for your cartridge and amplifier, but also try others to get the sound you might prefer.

lewm

12,126 posts

01-19-2024 at 09:51pm

"Just to point out that the video cables almost certainly do not have separate and equal conductors for audio hot and audio ground. In my experience that makes a difference. In cheap 75 ohm video cables, most likely audio ground is carried on the shield which therefore must be connected at both ends."

well, they are quite inexpensive, but not ’cheap’, see the specs, since HDMI hardly anyone uses them, thus low prices.

I don’t understand technical issues, just that they sound as good as anything else I have, and quite secure, my goal, and the added benefit of color coding.

I had Audio Classics build me a nice set of interconnects when they renewed my McIntosh mx110z preamp. I compare other cables to them, some silver ones I have, .... IF not as good, I throw them out. Friends bring their ’special’ cables here. Almost everything sounds the same to us. Given that, it’s the features that make a difference, i.e. locking/colors

This one gets my vote

Cardas - Iridium Phono Interconnect - Music Direct

Elliot, Of course you’re entitled to your preferences in all cases. Those cables you got with your reconditioned Mac, are they of the 2-conductor construction, with audio ground separated from shield? If not, you might want to procure some inexpensive 2-conductor cables and compare them to your video cables. Also, for SE connections (RCA), I prefer low mass plugs, like KLE. They’re tight fitting enough that locking them would be superfluous. And they sound best to my ears.